The Sunday talking heads gave gave only a little time to the military base closings list, and this coming week everything will be eclipsed by nuclear fallout from the judicial nominations battle. Is it just my cynicism edging into paranoia to think that this is the perfect time for the GOP to tee-up a strategy for '06 based on "reversal" of the base closing decisions?
Everybody who has looked for a partisan pattern in the list of bases slated for closings has not found one. But what if the list was made up to include Republican states or states under Repub govs or senators just so they can "win" reinstatement during the appeals process and look good in time for the '06 and '08 elections?
Prime example is John Thune. His major campaign issue against Daschle was that he would be better able to protect his state's military bases because he had the ear of the president and Daschle did not and never would. How much did the GOP invest in Thune? How much did they support (or write) his campaign issues in order to take down Daschle? Thune's election was the crowning glory of their national campaign. Would the administration really allow their golden boy to be cut off at the knees and exposed as a liar by closing his military bases?
I seriously doubt it. Everybody knows that the pentagon only proposes a list that is open to appeal and ultimate ratification.
I am betting that this whole process is just a sham and a tee-up for an opportunity for Thune, other loyal repubs, and stealth dino Joementum to highlight the benefits of sucking up to Bush by "winning back" their military bases, starting a mind-meld that the GOP hopes will continue into 2006 and on to 2008.
It's also an opportunity to appear to be unbiased and bi-partisan by including republican areas on the list and punishing
those repubs who get off the reservation-- like Susan Collins in Maine, where base closings will be devastating.
Ultimate message to repubs, dems, states, and the people: play on Bush's team, or pay.